Monday 5 January 2015

Where oh where have my vegetables gone?

I returned from helping my girl with her new bub a week ago today and am still getting back into routine again with my work in the garden. Before I left it was very dry and I was hoping that the zucchinis, cucumbers and other vegetables I had planted would survive the dry days. Well....apparently it rained quite a lot during the three weeks and when I took a walk around the garden the next day after arriving home, I was greeted by a jungle instead of my nice and neat veggie patch. 


There were tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers everywhere! I couldn't believe it.



Of course, it was all the Storm Birds' (Pacific Koel) fault as they have been calling out for rain for months now :-)

 

 At least we were able to find out what four plants were that just appeared out of nowhere before I left as neither the CEO nor myself had planted anything in that section of the patch. After pulling out a lot of weeds I discovered that they were rockmelon plants and considering we had already planted rockmelon in another section of the garden we are going to have a glut of the fruit in the future.


While it has been great to have so many wet days now we have a problem with powdery mildew on the zucchinis which need attention so I will try some of the remedies from Kelly's Natural Pest Control workshop.


Also this little critter is enjoying himself on the leaves as well. Is it friend or foe...can any expert gardeners identify it for me please?



We have two areas where the figs are growing and this lot on one side of the garden is covered in pests while on the other side the figs are growing pest free. Neither are in the shade so I have some research to do about growing figs. Last year we covered the figs to protect them from the flying foxes and got quite a good crop without having to contend with any pests but it was much drier then as well.


Beans are growing on the fence right next to the figs and are healthy and growing quite prolifically despite their pest ridden neighbours.
 

When I left there were a few dahlias growing which didn't look happy due to the lack of water but now they are blooming everywhere and are putting on a beautiful show.


 Don't they look fabulous?


This is one of my favourites as I love the 'striped' ones as they are so unusual. The dahlias are the CEO's department as he does whatever you do to develop different colours. Some are quite stunning I must admit. 



I have soooooo much preserving to do so need to get my QCWA Style Cucumber Pickles recipe out and just get stuck into it. All I need is the energy to do it as I am still recovering from being on Baby Watch :-) I can't complain as my girl is still sleep deprived because bub sleeps a lot during the day and then is awake at night. Isaiah James is only 18 days old so there is plenty of time for him to learn that nights are for sleeping (don't tell my daughter I said that though).  I am sure the feeling of being sleep deprived is familiar to all those mums who are reading this. We do survive even though at the time we often wonder if we will.

 I hope everyone has a great week and that any readers in South Australia and Victoria who are near the bushfires are keeping safe. Let's all pray for rain for those areas before any more damage is done.









20 comments:

  1. How nice it must have been to come home and find your garden flourishing. Your dahlia’s look beautiful – are they hard to grow? That is a cute photo of your grandson I didn’t notice the reflection of his little face in the tiny mirror at first. Thanks for posting the photo of the storm bird. I have had one hanging round my garden too, it’s good to know what they look like.

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    1. Sherri, the dahlias seem to be fairly hardy and grow well here especially when it isn't too dry. They are flourishing now with the rain we have been having.

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  2. Hi Chel, That CEO of your's is a whiz with the dahlias. I particularly like the first one with the apricot/pink variations. The rain has refreshed and re-energised everything here too, and we now have thick lush paddocks just waiting for some cattle to start munching.

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  3. Barb, I was thinking of you yesterday when I was near the State Rose Garden. I wanted to check out the roses but we had a heavy downpour at the time.

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  4. The storm birds have been around our way a bit too. Also Channel Billed Cuckoos calling loud and strong in the wee hours. Your garden has gone tropical in your absence I think! Congrats on your new grandson. cheers Wendy

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    1. Thanks Wendy. He is a cute boy. Imagine hearing those Cuckoos in the early hours! Not good.

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  5. Oh my, you really did come home to a veritable jungle didn't you? Do I remember right that rockmelon are cantaloupe? If so it's a better problem in my opinion than the zucchini excess! :) Just love your flowers! They are beautiful and since our ground is white and you can see your breath it's so cold they are certainly a bit of sunshine!

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  6. the black and yellow lady beetles are friend
    the orange ones with many spots are foe

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    1. Thanks heaps. I was hoping they were friendly. Obviously they like eating powdery mildew :-)

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  7. I know the garden photos always cheer you up during your winter, Kathy. It is nice to know that the sun is shining on the other side of the world :-)

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  8. What I great surprise to come back to so much produce!! Thats lovely!

    If I left for 3 weeks in summer I would come back to a yard full of sticks... O_o

    xx

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    1. Emma, I am sure it wouldn't be that bad. LOL! I just wish so many cucumbers didn't grow at once.

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  9. Is that a little mirror in Humpty's foot reflecting Isaiah's face? Very cute shot.

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  10. I've never seen a storm bird but they must be around here because we have 4 days of solid rain coming. Isnt it great to go adventuring in your own garden when you have been away. So many changes and discoveries. Some good, some bad. Lovely flowers.

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    1. It is usually very hard to see them as they hide under the foliage normally so I was very surprise that I was able to get so close to them. I thought they must have been feeling unwell to be sitting so exposed and not moving. Enjoy the rain, Lynda.

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  11. Yes, it is a little mirror, Phil. I noticed it when I was taking a photo of Isaiah. My girl and I had been trying to take some cute photos of his feet. Have you ever tried to take a photo of a moving object :-) His feet didn't stay still for very long.

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  12. Nanna Chel,
    Bub looks lovely. And the rain did make everything nice and green and lush. I like your new header too.
    - Shiralee.

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    1. Thanks Shiralee. It was a bit of trial and error but I don't mind it.

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  13. If only my patch was so productive, the figs fell off again (3rd year) the button squash was a waste of time, pumpkins are looking good. So nice for you to be with the fam for the new birth.

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    1. I think it is a lot hotter down in the valley than it is here, Deb. The figs are still on the bushes....and there are lots of bushes but one lot is covered in soot and pests so hubby has just bought some white oil to put on them. The other bushes are doing well so it is strange.

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